pen spinning mainly
neurodiverse
What is Neurodivergence?
It's ADHD, Autism, OCD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bi-polar, aspd, etc etc etc etc
“neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior”
So, it’s very broad, if you feel like it describes you then it does as far as we're concerned
Rules
1.) ableist language=post or comment will probably get removed (enforced case by case, some comments will be removed and restored due to complex situations). repeated use of ableist language=banned from comm and possibly site depending on severity. properly tagged posts with CW can use them for the purposes of discussing them
2.) always assume good faith when dealing with a fellow nd comrade especially due to lack of social awareness being a common symptom of neurodivergence
2.5) right to disengage is rigidly enforced. violations will get you purged from the comm. see rule 3 for explanation on appeals
3.) no talking over nd comrades about things you haven't personally experienced as a neurotypical chapo, you will be purged. If you're ND it is absolutely fine to give your own perspective if it conflicts with another's, but do so with empathy and the intention to learn about each other, not prove who's experience is valid. Appeal process is like appealing in user union but you dm the nd comrade you talked over with your appeal (so make it a good one) and then dm the mods with screenshot proof that you resolved it. fake screenies will get you banned from the site, we will confirm with the comrade you dm'd.
3.5) everyone has their own lived experiences, and to invalidate them is to post cringe. comments will be removed on a case by case basis depending on determined level of awareness and faith
4.) Interest Policing will not be tolerated in any form. Support your comrades in their joy!
Further rules to be added/ rules to be changed based on community input
RULES NOTE: For this community more than most we understand that the clarity and understandability of these rules is very important for allowing folks to feel comfortable, to that end please don't be afraid to be outspoken about amendments and addendums to these rules, as well as any we may have missed
I tried and failed miserably at spinning. I used to yo-yo a bit but fell out of the hobby. Then I got a set of begleri beads and could do some simple stuff but transfers(like with pen spinning) just did not like me lol. I even made a homemade pen spin mod from a Bic at one point. I've also looked into knucklebones as well because it seems maybe easier? But the cost of entry is a bit higher than an old Bic pen.
My preferred stim seems odd amongst people with Autism and ADHD, but I love smooth things. Those nylon size tags facing each other on the side of your shirt or pants, I love rubbing the smoothness together. The ultimate version of this is well worn silk, like my pillow cases. Great stim that makes very little noise and can easily be kept in your pocket
Another one I recommend that's more popular with the nerd circles is mechanical keyboard test boards. Little boards with a bunch of different mechanical key types that you can switch out for your preferred mix of quiet, clicky, and bumpy. They're usually about $20, and can sometimes double as a macro setup for your computer.
I like buying stims that also have a function outside of being stims. It makes me feel less guilty about retail therapy. It also doubles by letting me stim in front of neurotypicals without ever being bothered for it.
I don't think fabric rubbing is at all weird! I know Taggies exist for early childhood sensory but I've always gravitated towards the corduroy style tags and not so much the silk ones. But also my SO called me out a few weeks ago for only wearing tagless t-shirts so there is that. I think the fabric might work for me if it came with few other functions? There is a magnet slider by Prits that has a worry stone groove in it that I feel might do the same thing. I almost got it over the micarta.
For keyboards, one of my hobbies is actually mechanical keyboards. I have 2 hot-swap boards both with tactiles. I have a few soldered with low pro tactiles. And I recently built a low profile clicky board. I love the snap of clickies but not so much the sound(when around other people since it can bug them) so I gravitated towards big tactile bumps. When typing fast it can feel amazing. I might make a keychain out of a leftover clicky though. 🤔
I like buying stims that also have a function outside of being stims. It makes me feel less guilty about retail therapy. It also doubles by letting me stim in front of neurotypicals without ever being bothered for it.
I feel this. My main right now is a magnetic slider and it ends up coming out in social interactions a lot. I get a bit self conscious about it at times. My last job interview didn't go well and I feel like part of it was that. I think that is part of why I wanted to make this post is maybe glean some from the stealth/sleeper fidgets. There was a magnetic pen I saw the other day that comes apart and you can sort of stack the pieces or build things.
Do you have any recs for fidgets with another function?
I have a beaded bracelet that I use to fidget when I need to.
I think a wearable isn't too far outside the realm of possibilities. I used to wear candy bracelets back in high school when I thought I was a cool raver lol.
I like it cause it isn't too loud when I fiddle with it, I'm always worried that any fidgeting I do is bothering people around me lol.
An online friend also just recommended a rubber bracelet for similar. She's also on the spectrum and has audio sensory sensitivity. Hey google find me fidget bracelets.
I hate buying things, so I just use old stuff I have lying around. At home I play a lot with cigarette lighters and small boxes, but outside I usually either play Antimatter Dimensions (it's kinda like a fidget) or open and close a broken top half of one of those cheap pens. Opening and closing those old pre-smartphone phones was also a joy.
Antimatter Dimensions is probably the best game ever made.
Idk why but I guess I just never think about repurposing stuff for fidgeting with that I already have. Also def yes on clamshell and slide keyboard phones lol.
Not ASD/ADHD (probably) but I love to fidget
Just got some Greek worry beads and these things are amazing
I know this isn't a convenient option for everyone, but instead of fidgeting I tend to just get up from my chair and pace around my room. I like it because, while it's a stretch to call it "exercise", it's healthier than sitting in my chair for hours on end.
Actually kinda proud of that change I made in my life. Before, when I put on a 40 minute Hasanabi vid, I'd take out my phone and play Subway Surfer, now I get up and walk around until my legs get tired. When I first started doing this, I walked around so much that my legs were sore the next few days lmao.
Whatever is on my desk at the time.
After meetings with my boss, which are always stressful, I look down at my desk and usually find some random item torn into tiny pieces
I can’t stop touching my hair, please help
So long story shortish but I should have seen this as a sign. I used to have really long hair and would twirl it and then sort of group a section and push down on the ends. I would also rub and pull on my goatee. I am back to full beard and the habit came right back lol. This is a build in fidget I think I have finally embraced lol.
If you're interested in mechanical keyboards, I have a 3d printed switch tester cube I bought from a keyboard site. Pop in whatever switches you like and click away. I have an assortment of clicky and silent switches, I love it!
Do you have a link? I've been thinking of getting something like this for ages.
There are a lot of great suggestions in this thread.
I have one of these finger strengthening things for guitar (even though I don’t play). Works well to keep my hand occupied instead of picking at my beard
Apologies for the amazon link https://a.co/d/e2vyZH1
My partner loved these pea pod squeeze keychains.. The cute face does rub off after a while but she got a lot of use out of it.
I may have looked into these already lol ❤️
Dumb question maybe but does it actually feel like edamame?
I learned how to solder and cut copper pipe for my job. I made a little fidgety thingamajig and I just spin it in my hand all the time. It has a hilt kind of like a sword but you can move it around in different directions. It's kind of cool like meditation balls or a wind chime because it rings when it hits my thumb nail
Curious about this. Would you be willing to share a pic of it? I occasionally peruse some of the DIY fidget stuff but I lack in the creativity dept.
My partner uses this thing a lot:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5100727
and this one: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1752508
They're easy to 3d print and use less than a dollar's worth of filament to make.
Edit: if you want one and don't have a 3d printer, I can send you one if you feel comfortable with that
I have a set of worry beads I got in Turkey that I replaced the string with fishing line because I tend to be so rough with it. Can be played with almost silently or I can swing it around to make a racket.
That's amother for worry beads. I think I should have went with those instead of belgeri beads. I like the clacky rattle noises they make from the videos I watched.
A speed cube (Rubik's cube) is a fantastic fidget toy imo. Something like a Dayan ZhanChi, so smooth.
the 3x3x3 ones were way too easy (i was never about speed but about fidgeting) so i just started getting the odd sized bigger ones and have used a 7x7x7 for a while now. i don't like the even sized ones cause i don't feel like learning the parity solving algo
I had a 6x6 that would grind when solving. I felt like the parity algs were a nice challenge to drill into muscle memory but 4x4 and 6x6 could lock up and pop from barely turning. I have a 7x7 but really focused on 3x3 and 5x5. Then I got into jumbling puzzles lol.
I was actually into speedsolving for a few year. It's where my username comes from lol. I was maining a Yuxin Little Magic around the time I dropped the hobby.
I always carry around with me an empty tic-tac container to open and close.
I think I can keep an eye out for stuff like that that could have fidget potential. Someone else in this thread mentioned a bottlecap.
I used to just chew my nails, sharpen pencils with my nails, or absentmindedly eat bookmarks. Since getting into fidget spinners a year or two ago, it's just spinners and nail biting these days.
Overshare time but I was never a nailbiter but I am a nose picker(sorry if it's gross) and only really recently made the connection that it's a stim. Idk why but I sort of equate the two.
No harsh judgement there. Then again, my sinuses at points have necessitated some pickin'.